Cooperation & Understanding From Outside the Marijuana Community

The picture to the left is a prime example of "compassion" from an authority figure. Was the owner of the marijuana a licensed patient? We do not know. What we do know, though, is that the authority figure at the Transportation Security Association (TSA) was lenient about marijuana.

Are authority figures usually this "compassionate" about marijuana? Most definitely not. Below are a list of famous people---celebrities some may consider idols---who have been arrested for marijuana. Even famous people face prosecution of the marijuana prohibition in the United States.

ď»ż

ď»ż

Aaron Carter (2008)

Al Gore III (2003)

Allen Iverson (1997)

Andy Dick (1999)

Art Gunfunkel (2004)

Bill Murray (1970) Bob Denver (1998)

Bob Marley (1977)

Boy George (1986)

Brad Renfro (1999)

Bunny Wailer (1967)

Carlos Santana (1991)

Chris Webber (1998)

Chuck Berry (1990)

Coolio (1998)

David Bowie (1976)

David Faustino (2007)

David Lee Roth (1993)

Dennis Hopper (1999)

DMX (1999)

Ferguson Jenkins (1980)

Flavor Flav (1996)

Freddy Fender (1960)

Gene Krupa (1943)

George Harrison (1969)

George Michael (2006)

Governor Mitch Daniels (1970)

Haley Joel Osment (2006)

Iggy Pop (1976)

Isiah Rider (1998)

Jada Kiss (2004)

James Brown (1998)

Jeremy London (2004)

John Lennon (1968)

John Sinclair (1967)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1998)

Ken Kesey (1966)

Khalid El-Amin (1999)

Lil Kim (1996)

Linda McCartney (1975)

Louis Armstrong (1931)

Macaulay Culkin (2004)

Marcus Camby (1997)

Matthew McConaughey (1999)

Method Man (2007)

Mick Jagger (1967)

Mookie Blaylock (1997)

Neal Cassady (1958)

Neil Diamond (1976)

Notorious BIG (1996)

Oliver Stone (1999)

Orlando Cepeda (1976)

Paul McCartney (70’s & 80’s)

Pee-Wee Herman (1971)

Queen Latifah (1996)

Ray Charles (1961)

Ray Price (1999)

Robert Mitchum (1948)

Robert Parish (1991)

Ross Rebagliati (1998)

Savion Glover (1996)

Snoop Doggy Dog (1998)

Steve-O (2003)

The Grateful Dead (1967)

Timothy Leary, MD (1968)

Todd Marinovich (1996)

Vernon Maxwell (1995)

Whitney Houston (2000)

Willie Nelson (1995)

Woody Harrelson (1996)

Comments

What an eclectic list of personalities. Marijuana knows no bounds in the world of creativity and entertainment. An interesting note, is that aside from what stigmas some of the listed have, they are non-violent. This brings about the question as to why marijuana is criminal in the first place.

The plant is afterall, a plant, and the idea of criminalizing vegetation seems as backwards and anti-nature as one can expect. Corporations are allowed to print money out of nothing, and yet citizens are forbidden to from indulging in any way with cannabis. This is our worldly scenario.

As I have read from other articles on Nugs.com, the legitimacy of medical marijuana dispensaries has been questioned and raids have been executed by the DEA to terrorize the store owners and the dispensaries. This tyrannical abuse of power can only based on intimidation, and thus by the federal governments own definition, terrorism. The definition of terrorism according to the Code of Federal Regulations, "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectivesâ€ť To raid dispensaries and people's property on the premise of ganja possession falls wholly into the definition given above. Each and every time it happens, a coercive element is intimidating one's social objectives.

I do not mean to use a vague buzzword of the mainstream media, but to allow a realization that for several decades those involved in the cannabis culture are considered enemies of the state. It does not matter if one is Jerry Garcia, who posed no threat to the system, or Bob Marley, Notorious BIG or Tupac, all of whom in my opinion, posed an existential threat to the system's structure by promoting localism, civil liberties and self reliance - all of which are the quintessence of, lacking a greater term, what has been called American. I do not have the time to go through citing examples, Bob Marley has plenty of popular tunes, and I recall lines in "Juicy" by Notorious BIG where he extolls the virtues of sharing wealth, staying in Brooklyn, and helping the neighborhood's wealth to increase.

What are the true causes for pot's reputation with criminals? It seems to me that these victims are only criminals until AFTER they have been charged with crimes of possession, and that is only because said plant is "criminal".

As I have said else where, and will continue to argue, any marijuana issue is a health concern rather than a criminal concern. If the police are looking for our country's criminals, they are usually found in tall buildings under the names: Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase. Though if these banks (which now have the legal status as persons under the law!) are too big fail, than they must be too big to put in jail.
None of this is violent or even threatening. Bill Murray, as usual, is exceptional in this case but only because he chose rather to be funny, than to lie. As it states in the main article, Bill Murray was busted with several pounds of marijuana coming from Denver to Chicago. When asked what was in the bag, the yet-to-be Ghostbuster quipped, "a bomb". Probably not the best answer considering the contents were illegal goods. Again though, being incarcerated for carrying around dried plants ought not to cause an uproar on any level of the judicial sphere.

The late Carl Sagan, as well as his widow Ann Druyan, were both known to partake; in Sagan's case, it helped inspire some of his works, and Druyan is on the board of directors of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). Sagan's my personal hero, a man who saw the impossible and thought of ways to make it possible, up to and including proving the existence of God.

I've read quotes from people that say that the need to risk such lofty academic goals and careers just to light up is a sign that marijuana is addictive, but to that I say no; the only reason they even have to risk their good names is because our society as a whole has made it wrong to smoke pot. That's the only reason, and none of the people on this list, or in jail for marijuana-related charges, or out in the streets of our cities have done anything wrong.

There's something to think about next time you smoke up. And there's the important thing: always be sure to partake with a purpose.

"We always looked at pot as a sort of medicine, a cheap drunk and with much better thoughts than one that's full of liquor" -Louis Armstrong

Quite the list, eh? What stands out to me most about these names is this: Since Louis Armstrong's bust in 1931, popular figures in society have continued to use (and be slapped on the wrist for) marijuana. For almost a century, world class athletes, artists, entertainers, thinkers, etc. have been drawn to marijuana and its effects. When will society as a whole acknowledge this and come to terms with the fact that people will always seek pot? Or with the fact that the people using the plant (based off this list alone) jump the highest, sing the loudest, and act with the most conviction? This list proves that marijuana use is universal and timeless, so enjoy!

Also, another tid-bit learned from this list: Women in entertainment RARELY get busted with weed. Too bad Lil' Kim had to be the only blemish on what otherwise would be a clean slate for the ladies out there on the pot no-no list. Shucks.